Three dimensional array

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and methods of use thereof for rapidly and specifically detecting target agents.

1 . A three dimensional array for detecting target agents comprising a support having two opposing surfaces, a plurality of pins projecting from at least one of said two opposing surfaces, wherein each pin comprises a surface with an array associated universal oligo disposed thereon.  
   
   
       2 . The three dimensional array of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of pins project from both opposing surfaces of said support, and wherein each pin comprises a surface having an electrodal compound disposed thereon, and further comprising a linking agent linked to said electrodal compound, wherein said array associated universal oligo is linked to said electrodal compound.  
   
   
       3 . The three dimensional array of  claim 2 , wherein said electrodal compound is gold layered over titanium, wherein said linking agent is linked to the electrodal compound via a sulfur linkage, and wherein said linking agent is capable of forming a self-assembling monolayer.  
   
   
       4 . A method of detecting a presence of one or more target agents in a sample comprising: 
 (a) mixing: 
 (i) capture-associated universal oligos conjugated to one or more capture moieties specific for said one or more target agents; and  
 (ii) a sample suspected of containing said target agents, thereby producing a mixture comprising reacted capture-associated universal oligo complexes and unreacted capture-associated universal oligo complexes;  
   (b) contacting the mixture of step (a) with immobilized binding partners to said one or more capture moieties in said sample so as to allow any of said unreacted capture-associated universal oligo complexes to bind with said immobilized binding partners resulting in an immobilized phase and a solution phase;    (c) separating the immobilized phase and solution phase;    (d) providing a detection device comprising the three-dimensional array of  claim 4  having array-associated universal oligos, and wherein said detection device produces a signal if there is a hybridization event between said array-associated universal oligos and other nucleic acid molecules;    (e) introducing said solution phase from step (c) to the detection device from step (d); and    (h) detecting a signal generated by capture-associated universal oligos and array-associated universal oligos.    
   
   
       5 . A method of detecting a presence of one or more target agents in a sample comprising: 
 (a) mixing: 
 (i) capture-associated universal oligos conjugated to one or more capture moieties specific for said one or more target agents; and  
 (ii) a sample suspected of containing said target agents, thereby producing a mixture comprising reacted capture-associated universal oligo complexes and unreacted capture-associated universal oligo complexes;  
   (b) contacting the mixture of step (a) with immobilized binding partners to said one or more target agents or to target agent/capture moiety complexes of said reacted capture-associated universal oligo complexes in said sample so as to allow any of said reacted capture-associated universal oligo complexes to bind with said immobilized binding partners resulting in an immobilized phase and a solution phase;    (c) separating the immobilized phase and solution phase;    (d) providing a detection device comprising the three dimensional array of  claim 4  having array-associated universal oligos, and wherein said detection device produces a signal if there is a hybridization event between said array-associated universal oligos and other nucleic acid molecules;    (e) liberating said capture-associated universal oligo into a second solution phase from said immobilized phase;    (f) introducing said second solution phase from step (e) to the detection device from step (d); and    (g) detecting a signal generated by capture-associated universal oligos and array-associated universal oligos.